*The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their swords from the [[Barrow-downs]] and so it remained a mystery how the Witch-king was able to be so wounded with Merry's blade.

*The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with [[Tom Bombadil]]. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their swords from the [[Barrow-downs]] and so it remained a mystery how the Witch-king was able to be so wounded with Merry's blade.

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| [[Saruman|Saruman the White]] || [[Peter Howell]]

| [[Saruman|Saruman the White]] || [[Peter Howell]]

|-

|-

−

| [[Denethor II|Denethor]] || [[Peter Vaughan]]

+

| [[Denethor]] || [[Peter Vaughan]]

|-

|-

| [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] || [[Philip Voss]]

| [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]] || [[Philip Voss]]

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Line 121:

| [[Galadriel]] || [[Marian Diamond]]

| [[Galadriel]] || [[Marian Diamond]]

|-

|-

−

| [[Gríma Wormtongue]] || [[Paul Brooke]]

+

| [[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]] || [[Paul Brooke]]

|-

|-

|

|

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| [[Glorfindel]] || [[John Webb]]

| [[Glorfindel]] || [[John Webb]]

|-

|-

−

| [[Haldir of Lórien|Haldir]] || [[Haydn Wood]]

+

| [[Haldir]] || [[Haydn Wood]]

|-

|-

| [[Nob]] || [[Haydn Wood]]

| [[Nob]] || [[Haydn Wood]]

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==Re-release in 2002==

==Re-release in 2002==

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In 2002, to coincide with the release of Peter Jackson's [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]], the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').

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In 2002, to cash in on the success of Jackson's movies, the BBC reissued the series in three sets corresponding to the three original volumes (''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').

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This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the [[Red Book]], as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the [[Red Book]], as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

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The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.

The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002.

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The series has not been heard on the digital BBC archive station BBC 7, despite frequent requests, reportedly because of copyright issues.

Contents

Broadcast history

Each of the original 26 episodes received two broadcasts per week - standard practice for many BBC radio serials even today. The first broadcast of Episode 2 was blacked out across a large part of south east England because of a transmitter failure (a very rare occurrence even then).

The 26-part series was subsequently edited into 13 hour-long episodes, restoring some dialogue originally cut for timing (since each hour-long episode is actually around 57 minutes, as opposed to 54 minutes for two half-hour episodes), rearranging some scenes for dramatic impact and adding linking narration and music cues. It was broadcast in 13 episodes in 1982.

The re-edited version was released on both cassette tape and CD sets which also included the soundtrack album (noticeably taken from a vinyl copy).

A soundtrack album featuring a completely re-recorded and in some cases expanded, suite of Stephen Oliver's music was released in 1981.

Differences from the book

The script by Brian Sibley and Michael Bakewell attempts to be as faithful as possible to the original novels, but there are some errors and alterations. They include:

At one point, Minas Anor and Minas Tirith are referred to as though they were separate cities; these are merely alternate names for the same city.

Part of the Battle of Pelennor Fields sequence is described in song by an opera-style vocalist rather than acted, which may distance some listeners from the action. Others may find the kinship between the sequence and Eddic style of storytelling interesting.

The radio serial omits the sequence in the book in which the hobbits visit with Tom Bombadil. However, in doing so, the Hobbits are never shown to receive their swords from the Barrow-downs and so it remained a mystery how the Witch-king was able to be so wounded with Merry's blade.

This version omitted the original episode divisions, and included a new opening and closing narration for the first two sets, and an opening narration only for the last, recorded by Ian Holm in character as Frodo Baggins - Frodo's narrations deal with his efforts to write his historical account of the War of the Ring in the Red Book, as well as his own personal reflections and musings on the story's events.

The re-edited version also included some additional music cues, which had to be taken from the soundtrack album because the original master tapes for the series music had been lost.

The soundtrack, now digitally remastered, was also included with The Return of the King set, with a demo of John Le Mesurier singing Bilbo's Last Song included as a bonus track.